Green Building

Green Building is the practice of increasing a building’s resource efficiency while reducing its impacts on human health and the environment during its lifecycle - through better siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal.¹  Building energy efficiency measures are some of the cheapest and most cost-effective ways to reduce carbon emissions worldwide and preserve energy.

The commercial and residential building sector accounts for 39% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the United States per year, more than any other sector. U.S. buildings alone are responsible for more CO2 emissions annually than those of any other country except China. Most of these emissions come from the combustion of fossil fuels to provide heating, cooling and lighting, and to power appliances and electrical equipment. By transforming the built environment to be more energy-efficient and climate-friendly, the building sector can play a major role in reducing the threat of climate change.²

Building green is one of the best strategies for meeting the challenge of climate change because the technology to make substantial reductions in energy and CO2 emissions already exists. The average LEED certified building uses 32% less electricity and saves 350 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually. Modest investments in energy-saving and other climate-friendly technologies can yield buildings and communities that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthier places to live and work, and that contribute to reducing CO2 emissions.²

Green building has environmental, economic, and health and community benefits.  Environmentally, it: enhances and protects ecosystems and biodiversity, improves air and water quality, reduces solid waste, and conserves natural resources.  Economically, it reduces operating costs, enhances asset values and profits, improves employee productivity and satisfaction, and optimizes life-cycle economic performance. With regard to health and community, it improves air, thermal, and acoustic environments, enhances occupant comfort and health, and minimizes strain on local infrastructure.³